Reflection Paper

The Filibusterism” or literally the regime of greed. This was the second novel that Rizal
wrote and dedicated for his country specifically the three martyr friars, namely: Gomez,
Burgos, and Zamora. The three priests were accused by the Spaniards on being a traitor to the
government and were sentenced to death. Also, this novel was the continuation of the Noli
Mi Tangere. But, even though Noli talks about romance and love, El Filibusterismo talks
about the politics and governmental issues in our country. It targets the Spanish government
in indirect way.This novel tell us how cruel and how purely evil the Spaniards was.
Nevertheless, it also tackles the bravery of the Filipino community. It shows the
unimagined bravery of our countrymen on fighting the greediness and cruelty of the
Spaniards.By reading this poetic novel, you can conclude that the sword is not the only one
who can cut through the steel armor but also words can shatter the pride of anyone in this
world. It cannot result in to a fatal death but the wound it can cause will gradually devour
you. If I’m a Spaniard and I’d read his novel, surely, I’ll lose my mind to anger and grudge. I
am thankful not only for Jose Rizal but also for the people who fight for freedom in a war of
words and thoughts. Even though it is not directly into war, but the effect was very unburden
to the enemy. El Filibusterismo, a novel about the word war for freedom.
This novel is a sequel to the Noli. It has a little humor, less idealism, and less romance
than the Noli Me Tangere. It is more revolutionary and more tragic than the first novel.The
hero of El Filibusterismo is a rich jeweler named Simoun. He was Crisostomo Ibarra of the
Noli, who, with Elias’ help, escaped from the pursuing soldiers at Laguna de Bay, dug up his
buried treasure, and fled to Cuba where he became rich and befriended many Spanish
officials. After many years he returned to the Philippines, where he freely moved around. He
is a powerful figure not only because he is a rich jeweler but also because he is a good friend
and adviser of the governor general.
Outwardly, Simoun is a friend of Spain. However deep in his heart, he is secretly
cherishing a terrible revenge against the Spanish authorities. His two magnificent obsessions
are to rescue Maria Clara from the nunnery of Santa Clara and to foment a revolution against
the hated Spanish masters.The story of El Filibusterismo begins on board the clumsy,
roundish shaped steamer Tabo, so appropriately named. This steamer is sailing upstream the
Pasig from Manila to Laguna de Bay. Among the passengers are Simoun, the rich jeweler;
Doña Victorina, the ridiculously pro-Spanish native woman who is going to Laguna in search
of her henpecked husband, Tiburcio de Espadaña, who has deserted her; Paulita Gomez, her
beautiful niece; Ben-Zayb (anagram of Ibañez), a Spanish journalist who writes silly articles
about the Filipinos; Padre Sibyla, vice-rector of the University of Santo Tomas; Padre
Camorra, the parish priest of the town of Tiani; Don Custodio, a pro-spanish Filipino holding
a position in the government; Padre Salvi, thin Franciscan friar and former cura of San
Diego; Padre Irene, a kind friar who was a friend of the Filipino students; Padre Florentino, a
retired scholarly and patriotic Filipino priest; Isagani, a poet-nephew of Padre Florentino and
a lover of Paulita; and Basilio, son of Sisa and promising medical student, whose medical
education is financed by his patron, Capitan Tiago.
Simon, a man of wealth and mystery, is a very close friend and confidante of the Spanish
governor general. Because of his great influence in Malacañang, he was called the“Brown
Cardinal” or the “Black Eminence”. By using his wealth and political influence, he
encourages corruption in the government, promotes the oppression of the masses, and hastens
the moral degradation of the country so that the people may become desperate and fight. He
 smuggles arms into the country with the help of a rich Chinese merchant, Quiroga, who
wants very much to be Chinese consul of Manila. His first attempt to begin the armed
uprising did not materialize because at the last hour he hears the sad news that Maria Clara
died in the nunnery. In his agonizing moment of bereavement, he did not give the signal for
the outbreak of hostilities.
After a long time of illness brought about by the bitter loss of Maria Clara, Simoun
perfects his plan to overthrow the government. On the occasion of the wedding of Paulita
Gomez and Juanito Pelaez, he gives a wedding gift to them a beautiful lamp. Only he and his
confidential associates, Basilio (Sisa’s son who joined his revolutionary cause), know that
when the wick of his lamp burns lower the nitroglycerine, hidden in its secret compartment,
will explode, destroying the house where the wedding feast is going to be held killing all the
guests, including the governor general, the friars, and the government officials.
Simultaneously, all the government buildings in Manila will be blown by Simoun’s
followers.
As the wedding feast begins, the poet Isagani, who has been rejected by Paulita because
of his liberal ideas, is standing outside the house, watching sorrowfully the merriment inside.
Basilio, his friend, warns him to go away because the lightened lamp will soon explode.
Upon hearing the horrible secret of the lamp, Isagani realizes that his beloved Paulita was
in grave danger. To save her life, he rushes into the house, seizes the lightened lamp, and
hurls it into the river, where it explodes.
The revolutionary plot was thus discovered. Simoun was cornered by the soldiers, but he
escaped. Mortally wounded, and carrying his treasure chest, he sought refuge in the home of
Padre Florentino by the sea.
The Spanish authorities, however, learns of his presence in the house of Padre Florentino.
Lieutenant Perez of the Guardia Civil informs the priest by letter that he would come at eight
o’clock that night to arrest Simon.
Simoun eluded arrest by taking poison. As he is dying, he confesses to Padre Florentino,
revealing his true identity, his dastardly plan to use his wealth to avenge himself, and his
sinister aim to destroy his friends and enemies.
The confession of the dying Simoun is long and painful. It is already night when Padre
Florentino, wiping the sweat from his wrinkled brow, rises and begins to meditate. He
consoles the dying man saying: “God will forgive you Señor Simon. He knows that we are
fallible. He has seen that you have suffered, and in ordaining that the chastisement for your
faults should come as death from the very ones you have instigated to crime, we can see His
infinite mercy. He has frustrated your plans one by one, the best conceived, first by the death
of Maria Clara, then by a lack of preparation, then in some mysterious way. Let us bow to His
will and render Him thanks!”
 REACTION PAPER ON EL FILIBUSTERISMO
BY: STEPHANIE SHANE OBRE
GRADE 11- HUMSS 3
I actually read EL FILIBUSTERISMO and the story is so deep and you can really feel
the intense emotions of the characters to fight for their country including all their trials and
problems along the way. Like for some examples, the injustice of the Filipinos not being
able to learn Spanish, most of the main characters were put in jail (except simoun who was
smart enough to know when to keep his secret of revolution) , the death and sorrows of
many,
Including basilio who’s fiancé committed suicide, the heartbreak and jealousy between
isagani and Juanito over paulita (the niece of Dona Victorina) in the end though, simoun
committed suicide
Rather than being found after that attack that went wrong (namely because of isagani).
I think You would like reading this blog.
Everyone agrees on the fact that El filibusterismo is a far more dark and brutal than Noli Me
Tangere. With many events of murder, sexual abuse, and suicide, El Filibusterismo is a
massive turning point.
Not only for the plot but also for the characters. Crisostomo Ibarra really did grow as
a characterIn this book. He’s obviously not the idealistic and open man he was once before.
He Became Vengeful, anger, and in some what way, cunning. And in my opinion, this
transportation of his very. Much human and real. After Everything he went through Noli
Me Tangere , it seems only fitting That he becomes the man who’s simoun. I believed that
when Ibarra went under alias simoun, he
Did not just strip himself his birth name but he stripped himself of all what was left of juan
Crisostomo Ibarra. The way i see it is that Ibarra is not simoun and simoun is not Ibarra.
They share the same face, But if were not speaking about physical attributes, then the only
thing they truly
Did have in common was love for the dear Maria Clara. But besides that, they don’t share
the Mind , the same plans, the same soul, the same heart.
 Author’s Background
Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado (y) Alonso Realonda
Born: June 19, 1861
Calamba, Laguna, Spanish Philippines
Died: December 30, 1896 (Age 35)
Bagumbayan , Manila, Spanish Philippines.
Cause of Death: Exution by firing squad
Monuments: Luneta Park, Manila,Calamba, Laguna, Daet Camarines Norte

Other Names: Pepe, Jose

Parents: Francisco Mercado Rizal (Father)
Teodora Alonso Realonda (Mother)

Achievements
1. He Became The most intelligent student when he finished high school at Ateneo
2. Won a lot of literary contests during his school days.
3. He is Multi lingual man who can speak up to 22 languages
4. He wrote 2 novels exposing the tyranny and abuses of the Spanish friars and some
Spanish officials
5. Annotated Morga’s book that describes the Filipino life has its own culture when
the Spaniards arrives in the Philippines.
6. Wrote Meaning articles in the anti Spanish friars newspaper La Solidaridad such as
THE PHILIPPINES WITHIN A CENTURY AND THE INDOLENCE OF THE
FILIPINOS.